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Introduction
Message from the
Vice-Chancellor
DR MAX PRICE
Vice-Chancellor
It is the responsibility of the University of Cape Town to ensure
that our research and innovation creates new information and
pushes the boundaries of knowledge, for the development and
transformation of society and the safeguarding of the planet.
Our researchers have fulfilled this obligation admirably during
the past year and I am pleased to present this report on research
excellence at UCT during 2012.
W
e are privileged to have an exceptional community of researchers at UCT.
Contributions to research, and achievements during 2012, are outlined
in the report presented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor. We showcase some
prominent areas of research and inter-disciplinary themes, which continue to
emerge across the university, and which play a pivotal role in our research
enterprise. Some of these are:
the enormous contribution of research being undertaken in astronomy to the
national flagship projects of the Karoo Array Telescope (MeerKAT) and the Square
Kilometre Array (SKA), one of the largest scientific experiments of all time;
research that has direct relevance to national policies aimed at poverty reduction,
promotion of growth, and the reduction of inequality;
world-leading research undertaken by the Institute of Infectious Disease and
Molecular Medicine;
research on the development of new forms of digital technology to address the
developmental problems within society, problems that do not exist in developed
economies, where most of the world’s technology is created; and
innovative research into water treatment, which impacts a broad range of sectors,
ranging from industrial and commercial applications, to impacting the lives of all
South Africans in a more direct manner.
One of the highlights in the research achievements of 2012 was the selection for further
development of a molecule, code-named MMV390048, by Medicines for Malaria Venture
(MMV), a non-profit foundation created to discover, develop, and deliver new, affordable
antimalarial drugs through effective public-private partnerships. The promising new
compound that was developed by UCT’s H3-D centre shows potent activity against
multiple points in the malaria parasite's lifecycle. This means it not only has the potential
to become part of a single-dose cure for malaria, but might also be able to block
transmission of the parasite from person to person. This is the first compound researched
on African soil to enter pre-clinical development in partnership with MMV.
The above initiatives are making significant contributions to addressing societal problems
and influencing growth and development, both in South Africa and on the continent. In
addition to these, there are four inter-disciplinary, institution-wide initiatives that play an
equally important role in solving current challenges: the Safety and Violence Initiative,
the Schools Improvement Initiative, the African Climate and Development Initiative, and
the Poverty and Inequality Initiative. An important milestone in 2012 was the hosting of